Experience the outdoors during November

The Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve has invited local Historic City News readers to participate in planned activities for November; focused on the conservation and habitat restoration of the local watersheds.

The Research Reserve was formed to build citizen awareness, concern and participation through collaboration between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; including 74,000 acres of coastal lands in northeast Florida — from Ponte Vedra Beach to Palm Coast.

FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM COURSE – UPLANDS
— Become a Florida Master Naturalist —
The GTM Research Reserve will be hosting a Florida Master Naturalist Course in conjunction with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Studies (IFAS extension). The course will be offered at the Environmental Education Center over six days, November 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 14th and 16th. It will include classroom presentations, videos and fieldtrips covering key plants and animals, ethics and interpretation. The cost is $225 and attendees can earn up to 40 continuing education hours. Advanced registration is required. The class is limited to 20 people. For more information, contact Carol Wyninger at (904) 220-0232 or wyninger@comcast.net or Carly Swatek at (904) 823-4500 or carly.swatek@dep.state.fl.us. To register, visit www.masternaturalist.org. The GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

BROWN BAG LUNCH LECTURE
— Free and open to the Public —
The GTM Research Reserve will host a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture from 12:00 pm to 1:00 p.m. the first Friday of every month. In November, Emily Jane Murray, Public Information Specialist at the GTM Research Reserve, will give a presentation entitled “Native America Ceramic Traditions of the Guana Peninsula.” Drawing from archaeological research in Northeast Florida, she will discuss the uses and implications of ceramic styles found at the Reserve throughout its 5000 years of human occupation.

The talk is sponsored by the GTM Research Reserve and there is no cost to attend. Please RSVP by going to http://gtmnerrbrownbag.eventbrite.com. You can also RSVP by calling (904) 823-4500. If you would like to tour the exhibit hall before or after the lecture, the cost is $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children age 10 to 17 and children under 10 are free. The GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT AT OSCEOLA ELEMENTARY
— Free and Open to the Public —
The GTM Research Reserve in conjunction with Flagler College and Kappa Delta Pi – Psi Rho Chapter are sponsoring “Misconception Myth Busters,” a night of science for everyone in the family. Attendees will get the chance to learn about and participate in research by local biologists and environmental scientists as well as Flagler College students. The event is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Osceola Elementary School.

SECOND SATURDAY TRAIL HIKE
— 1.5 mile guided walk through Guana Trail —
The GTM Research Reserve will host a trail walk every 2nd Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Join GTM Research Reserve staff and/or volunteers for a 1.5 mile walk that the entire family will enjoy. Meet at the GTM Research Reserve’s Trailhead Pavilion located west of the Guana Dam. Wear comfortable closed toe shoes. There is a $3 per vehicle parking fee. Please RSVP by going to http://gtmnerr2ndtrailhike.eventbrite.com or by calling (904) 823-4500. The GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Rd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

FRIENDS OF THE GTM RESEARCH RESERVE MEETING
— Open to the Public —
The Friends of the GTM Research Reserve will hold its monthly meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 13, 2012. The public is welcome to attend. For further information please call Teri Webley at (904) 823-4527.

GUIDED WALK TO THE RIVER THROUGH WOODED HAMMOCK AT MARINELAND
— River to Sea Preserve – Flagler County —
On Wednesday, November 14, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., GTM Research Reserve volunteer Ron Ceryak will guide hikers through Flagler County’s “River to Sea Preserve” coastal hammock to the Matanzas River along a 1.2-mile trail. Learn about nature’s bountiful vegetation and observe signs of wildlife. Hear tales of Native American lore, including how they used indigenous plants for food and medicine.

Meet the guide in the River to Sea Preserve parking lot on the west side of A1A at the southern end of the Town of Marineland, and wear comfortable, closed toe shoes. See the RIVER TO SEA PRESERVE sign and a temporary event sign posted at the drive entrance. Please RSVP at http://gtmnerrmarinelandtrail.eventbrite.com or by calling 904-823-4500, and wear comfortable, closed toe shoes.

THE ART & SCIENCE OF NATURE JOURNALING: TEACHER/STUDENT WORKSHOP
— Inquiry-, Object-, and Place-based Workshops with Peter C. Stone: Marine Environments & the Mythology of Water–
Journaling is a life skill that nurtures better attention, inner calm, and reflection. It also encompasses critical skills for Science, Math, Art, and Language Arts, including observation, intuition, inference, expression, and systems thinking. On Thursday, November 15, 2012 4:30-5:00pm, the Florida Wildlife Federation and Peter Stone will host a teacher/student workshop on Journaling.

Through this inquiry-, object-, or place-based workshop, participants will learn practices of journaling for daily living, in and out of the classroom. Working with objects related to marine environments, they will explore drawing fundamentals, the mythology of symbols and living systems, dynamics of observation, Visual Learning Strategies, Perspective, Objectivity/Subjectivity, and journaling with expression. The workshop will be held at the GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082. Space is limited please RSVP by email at northeastfwf@fwfonline.org or by calling 904-347-6490.

AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING AND RECEPTION
— “Waltz with Giants” by Peter Stone; Free and Open to the Public —
On November 15, from 5:00-7:30pm, the Florida Wildlife Federation invites you to meet celebrated author and illustrator, Peter Stone, and journey with him as he explores the evolutionary wisdom and interconnectedness of endangered creatures, cultures, and ecosystems. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the author during a book signing of “Waltzes with Giants: The Twilight Journey of the North Atlantic Right Whale” prior to his presentation. Although the book will captivate all ages, “Waltzes with Giants” was recently selected for the Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided. The reception will take place at the GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082. For more information, please contact the Florida Wildlife Federation by email at northeastfwf@fwfonline.org or by calling 904-347-6490.

GUIDED BEACH EXPLORATION
— Beach stroll and discovery —
Join GTM Research Reserve volunteers Rick and Roz Edwards for a beach walk at the Guana South beach location. Learn about the animals that call the beach their home as well as seashells and other interesting facts. This is a “Beaches 101” experience that the entire family will enjoy. There is a $3/per vehicle parking fee. After the walk, visit the GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center (EEC) or enjoy our many miles of trails. The EEC is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082. Admission fee into the EEC is $2 for adults, $1 for children age 10-17 and children under ten are free.

Space is limited so please RSVP. You can make reservations at http://gtmnerrbeachexploration.eventbrite.com/ or by calling (904) 823-4500. Please provide your email and phone number in case we need to cancel due to inclement weather.